The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-09-07
Stage Effects.

Among the most curious of all the things
in the property-room, says writer IN the
New York Mirror, are the appliances for
making particular noises Thunder is made
in two WAYS. One is to make it by large
sheet of iron hung up, having handle at
the bottom. When this is suddenly and
smartly shaken 1t sounds like near clap of
thunder. The other way is by letting num-
Der of cannon-balls fall out of box on to
the floor and roll along. This initiates the
"rumbling" of thunder A third apparatus
is the thunder-drum, which is beaten with
padded stick and consists of heavy frame
with a calf-skin tightly drawn over it, The
gallon of a horse, or, indeed, any OF MS
PAGES can be admirably simulated by the
means used in "Hed by the Enemy"
stand is made upon which is placed board,
bridged so as to render it reverbatory; then
an action similar to the piano action of key
litter and hammer is arranged, four horse
shoes serving as hammers to the four keys.
This being played like piano, to the rhythm
of the horses pace, produces the precise
clatter. Manifestly, according to the num-
Der of keys, the sound of whole troop of
cavalry could be faithfully given. In Den
man Thompsons Old Homestead a set
of sleigh bells are used with good effect
The dash and splash of breaking waves is
well made by swinging a bag full of small
steel chains and handouts of cut-glass beads
the size of peas thrown into the air COM
pletes the illusion by looking like spray.
Another way of initiating the breaking
waves is by a quantity of small shot in a
wooden box lined with tin. When Handels
" A els and Galatea" was produced, twenty
years ago at the Princess theater, the open
ing scene was of surprising loneliness. The
stage represented the beach of a lovely
| tropical bay, which swept round in a beau
! tiful curve, bounded by cliffs, on which
were the tall and feathery palms spreading
! their plumes against the sky. while the dis
tant headland melted away in very dis
lance. The full moon rose slowly on the
! scene, showing the foam-crested waves lift
ing themselves and falling over in great
green arch, then drawing back in sheet of
white and sparkling foam, while as each
wave broke the dash and ripple were heard
| The scene involves several eXpedients
worthy of notice. In the first place, the
waves were painted on a stage cloth, the
| first two yards of which were transparency.
The first yard was painted sea green, and at
that place a rope was sewed on the under
side. When the cloth was laid the edge was
fastened down, and 1t was folded over so
that the rope was at the apparent edge. The
second yard or so was painted like white
FOAM and literally covered with white and
cut-glass beads or buges. About two yards
farther back another rope was underneath
the cloth. The first rope was lifted and
thrown forward. As it was lifted light could
be seen through the sea-green wave When it
fell the rope was drawn back, which showed
the white surface glittering in a light
thrown on it. AS the first rope fell the rear
rope was just lifted, and a jerk gave a wave
movement along it, giving the appearance
aged by moon-box and supplementary
drop--that is to say, a strip yard wide was
cut out of the sky drop, and Immediately
behind it, and quite close, drop having a
moon cut out and covered with transparent
CLOTH having yellow silk behind to soften
the light Behind this was strong calcium
light. The moon rose by the drop being
gently raised. Green mediums at the foot
lights and also at the border-lights
completed the mechanism of one of the
most lovely and realistic scenes ever placed
upon stage. Falling snow is always
taking effect. 1t is produced by innumer-
able small pieces of white paper put in a
long, narrow box which has gridiron bot
tom. This is hung in the flies, having line
attached to it. This line sets the box swing
ing when the snow " disengages, few
bits at time. Scraped cows horn makes a
good falling snow. The wind-machine is
an important adjunct to the thunder-drum.
1t is composed of revolving paddle-wheel
striking continuously upon piece OF strong
gros-grain silk stretched tightly across a
frame. The q" crash which breaks all the
crockery is similar in principle to the
musical box. series of pegs on revolving
barrel strike in rapid succession set OF
wooden tongues a ran-machne consists
Oh cyllnueT Oh Hdll-lnCH WOOu dDOuJ twenty
inches in diameter and four feet long This
has number of wooden pegs inside and a
quantity of dried peas. When the cylinder
is turned by a belt the peas rattle against
the pegs, and it rains At Niblo's, re-
Gently. long, shallow, sheet-iron trough
was placed across the stage. In the flies
were perforated pipes which let down cur
tain of falling water which splashed on the
throng below-a most realistic effect. On &
pinch rain may be made with handful OF
shot rolled about on a sheet of brown paper
pasted over child's hoop. The shower Of
golden rain seen in " Pepita ~ was pro
duced by gilded tapes let down from the
flies. The natural curl and movement o
the tape produces the appearance. Fire
: scenes can be managed without fire. The
} house to be burned is made in parts will
zigzag connections and breakaway 4" ar
rangement; red fire, a row of gas-gets visible
at the right time between the cracks of tn,
scenery and flashes of lycopodium, plent,
of steam and lively business, with the super
, dressed as firemen, does the trick, if tn
, curtain falls with sufficient promptitude 81
cheat and surprise prying eyes" An add
tional illusion is made by having an endles
towel painted with flames, kept in motion
Y as backing to the windows when they
break away.